Sasha Bortich
After finishing school, Sasha Bortich, known for her role in Slave, faced a setback when she couldn’t gain admission to a theater institute. She worked as a waiter while continuing to audition for screen tests, determined to pursue acting.
In 2014, Bortich landed the lead in the psychological drama What is My Name, directed by Nigina Sayfullaeva. The film earned top honors at the Baltic Debuts festival in Svetlogorsk and received a special prize at Kinotavr for its natural performance and artistic integrity.
Within the following year, five projects featuring Bortich were released. Among her most notable roles are appearances in Policeman from Rublyovka, Slave, I’m Losing Weight, and Fisher, which helped cement her status as a rising star in Russian cinema.
Sergei Bodrov Jr.
Sergei Bodrov Jr. came from a family of filmmakers, yet his path into cinema was not planned. Between 1989 and 1994 he studied Venetian Renaissance painting at Moscow State University, graduating with honors and continuing in graduate studies. He later recalled that his university years heightened his appreciation for beauty in everyday life.
Early on, Bodrov appeared in small roles in his father’s projects such as I Hate You, SIR (Freedom is Heaven) and White King, Red Queen. In 1995, while filming Prisoner of the Caucasus in Dagestan, he was unexpectedly offered a leading part. The film and Bodrov earned numerous festival accolades across Cannes, Sydney, Karlovy Vary, and Sochi. From 1996 to 1999, Bodrov hosted the program Vzglyad on ORT, and in 1996 he starred in Brother.
Oksana Akinshina
As a teenager, Oksana Akinshina worked with a modeling agency, and many of her classmates, including Sergei Bodrov Jr., were sent to casting calls for her group. This early exposure led to her first film role in Sisters at age 13. She later earned the Best Acting Duet award at the Sochi Film Festival with Ekaterina Gorina.
In 2002, Akinshina gained international recognition with Lilya Forever, directed by Lukas Moodysson. The production featured around a thousand participants in the casting process for main roles. Akinshina trained as an art critic, and in interviews she has cited Bodrov Jr. as an inspiration when choosing her path in acting.
Faina Ranevskaya
Faina Ranevskaya remains one of the most celebrated actresses of the 20th century. She studied music, singing, and foreign languages at the Mariinsky Women’s Gymnasium and began theater training at a private studio in Taganrog at age 14. Although financial constraints limited formal study, her dream of acting never faded.
In 1915 she joined an acting exchange, taking on singing and dancing roles for a stipend while touring theaters across the country. By 1924 she was part of the Moscow Department of Public Education Theater and continued to work in Moscow for many years. Her film debut came later in Dumpling, directed by Mikhail Romm, when she was 39, marking the beginning of a remarkable screen career.
Yuri Nikulin
Rejected by VGIK and GITIS due to doubts about his acting potential, Yuri Nikulin found his footing in the world of performance by training at the Moscow Circus. He began his film career at 36 with a small role in Girl with a Guitar, which drew attention to his unique talent. The breakthrough came with Leonid Gaidai’s Dog Barbos and the Unusual Cross in 1961, where Nikulin introduced his most iconic character, Goonie.
Johnny Depp
In 1979, at 16, Johnny Depp left school to pursue music, drifting through several bands before moving to Los Angeles to chase acting. A fortuitous connection with Nicolas Cage led him to auditions that eventually landed him a role in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Despite early reluctance about acting, Depp continued auditioning and eventually built a prolific movie career.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey has always loved performing and making people laugh. At 16, he left school in Toronto to earn cash and tried stand-up in clubs, facing setbacks before fully committing to comedy again in 1979. He modeled his stage presence after Jerry Lewis and soon found success in Toronto before heading to Los Angeles. There, Rodney Dangerfield noticed him and gave him a chance to open, but a difficult period followed with auditions that didn’t pan out. His breakthrough came with Rubberface (1983), and a decade later Ace Ventura: Pet Detective catapulted him to superstardom, followed by major hits like The Mask and Dumb and Dumber.
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix was born into a family involved in religious and charity work, with his mother later joining NBC’s casting department. Through those connections, Phoenix began acting in commercials and soon earned a television role in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He did not pursue formal acting classes or college, yet he rose to become one of the most respected actors on the global stage.
Cameron Diaz
At 16, Cameron Diaz joined Elite, one of the world’s leading modeling agencies. While modeling, she took on small roles in commercials and films, and by 20 she played Tina Carlisle in The Mask, a film that became one of the top box office hits of 1994. Diaz’s vibrant presence helped propel her into leading roles like My Best Friend’s Wedding in 1997, a standout romantic comedy that remains a fan favorite.
Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum’s early days included work in strip clubs, where his model looks helped him pay the bills. He gradually shifted from commercials to film roles, and in 2006 he earned a notable opportunity to portray a hip‑hop dancer in Step Up, a film that launched a long-running dance‑drama series and established him as a versatile leading man.